Relationship between hormone replacement therapy use with body fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in obese postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on insulin resistance and central adiposity in obese postmenopausal women. Forty-five obese postmenopausal women (16 HRT users and 29 nonusers), with a mean age of 56.6 +/- 5.3 years and duration of current, continuous HRT use of 4.7 +/- 2.9 years, were included in the study. Subjects were studied using oral glucose tolerance tests, euglycemic clamping, dual photon x-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography, doubly labeled water, and treadmill testing. Insulin sensitivity, total fat, visceral fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat, thigh muscle attenuation, daily physical activity energy expenditure, peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) were measured. HRT users had lower body weight (88.0 +/- 11.0 v 98.2 +/- 15.0 kg, P = .05), lower body mass index (33.1 +/- 3.5 v 36.8 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2), P = .05), lower fat mass (38.3 +/- 7.3 v 44.1 +/- 10 kg, P = .05), less visceral adipose tissue (157 +/- 47 v 211 +/- 81 cm(2); P = .05), and higher peak Vo(2) (21.1 +/- 4.6 v 17.6 +/- 2.2 mL/kg/min, P = .001) than nonusers. After adjustment for total fat, we noted a trend for decreased visceral adipose tissue in HRT users (P = .09). After adjustment for peak Vo(2), the decreased visceral adipose tissue persisted in HRT users (P < .01). Insulin sensitivity per killogram of lean body mass did not differ between HRT users (0.51 +/- 0.22 mmol/kg/min) and nonusers (0.49 +/- 0.22 mmol/kg/min). It was concluded that obese postmenopausal women using HRT have a more favorable body composition and fat distribution pattern than nonusers. Although visceral adipose tissue is decreased in HRT users, insulin sensitivity does not differ between HRT users and nonusers. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.